Battery Life

[Keithinouye]

Hello all - I am new to this forum, new to Jayco and honestly new to travel trailer camping so this might be a super basic dumb question.

I have a 2018 27RB and was dry camping for the first time over the weekend. Once on battery power (with a full charge), with no lights on, etc. and with only the furnace running on gas, I would lose power to the trailer in 4.5 - 5 hours. I am running the battery that came stock with the trailer.

I have been told that this is not the norm and I possibly have a bad battery, bad fuse, etc. I am hoping to get some of your thoughts through this forum. If more information is needed, I am happy to provide. Thank you all in advance!!

[oldmanAZ]

Hello to you. Congratulations on the new trailer and welcome to the forum.

Sorry, but running the furnace fan without hookups will deplete an OEM battery that quickly. Most of us set the thermostat lower and pile on the blankets when 'boondocking' (no power hookup) to minimize the time the furnace runs. (I'm assuming you were boondocking since you didn't mention any hookups.)

Since you just got the trailer, go back to the dealer and have them test the battery. You may have gotten a bad one.

[2naEagle]

I have not done any boondocking so can not help on that.

But welcome from Alabama.

[Mustang65]

First of all WELCOME to JOF!!!

You hit the number one killer of the standard TT battery. The heating system fan. Not sure as to how many times the heat kicked on over night, but the most, if the heat is not on a lot, would be possibly 2 nights max, with no other loads.

I take it you killed the battery at once already by saying you lost power in 4+ hours. The lowest voltage you should allow your battery to drop to is 12.2 volts (battery 50% rule). A "DEAD" battery is 10.5 volts, not "0" volts.. Some times it only takes one time to REALLY KILL a battery, more than once it is just a matter of a little time. The battery will show a full charge but the rated Ah's (85Ah's on a standard battery) will be reduced considerably, which is what gets you to 4+ hours.

Any type of dry camping needs additional power, especially in the fall, winter and spring when there is a need for heat. You need to monitor your batteries voltage if you intend on getting any life out of them. Like I said 12.2VDC is when you shut down all your 12VDC electronics, and that includes your HEAT. So, based on what you mentioned, you will need another battery... wait now that you have run your existing battery down as far as you did, you will need 2 new batteries. For ANY dry camping, I would recommend (2) 6 volt batteries in series, for 12Volts. A lot of the members use the Trojan T105 batteries, some use COSTCO 6 volt batteries... what ever fits your budget.

Number one get a Digital Voltage display (Amazon) and plug it into your 12Volt accessory receptacle in the TT, easy to watch it that way. Below are a few samples, the prices may not be exactly the same.

Oh, do not use the USB chargers on the Voltage display unless you add more batteries. There is a lot of good battery (and SOLAR) information on our RVing with SOLAR community group.

Before you go out and drop a lot of money for batteries, how do you plan to charge them each day? Generator? SOLAR?
Good luck,
Don
My Registry

RVing with SOLAR

[hboy]

Hey man. I would be suspect of that battery too if I was you.

In a 5 hour period of time I would think the furnace would only run less than half of that time.? Maybe an hour total run time on the furnace.? In addition to running the furnace are you sure nothing else is eating the battery? Is the fridge on? Water heater?

I see it's a 2018 model. Was is new when you purchased it? Have you ever checked the battery? Is it serviceable?

It is possible the battery was not maintained properly. Before you got it, or while it's been in your possession. Those batteries are funny. They can last years if maintained well, or one season if not maintained or have been drained multiple times.

If you expect to do most of your camping off the grid, I would start researching batteries for RV's and consider modifying your set up. Consider solar or a generator to help top off the batteries while camping.

If you will mostly have shore power when you go out, I would look into replacing the battery with a quality battery with good amp hour (not cranking amps like a car needs) rating. Keep the batteries fully charged through the year when not being used.

Good luck bro.